Takeaways from Miano
My top 10 takeaways from Miano Arts Academy
Isabelle Peng
8/12/20255 min read
“Desire births determination, determination births discipline, discipline [births dreams that come true.]”
~ Charles Miano, Founder and Artist Director of Miano Arts Academy (Rephrased)
Hi! As promised in the last blog, I will go in-depth with 10 major takeaways! One point from each day in class, using my gesture drawings and long pose progresses as examples. I am still working on finishing the long pose, so stay tuned! ^^
# 1 ~ How We Do Anything is How We Do Everything
My senior art teacher, who is now retired, said something very similar: “Life habits form work life habits.” Whether I am conscious or not, anything can make or break my art. Anything affects everything I do. This made me realize the importance of habit building, anywhere. Being precise in everything (perhaps cleaning my room) may seem small, but in the long run, I may reap benefits I don’t expect.
# 2 ~ Proportion is the Greatest Enemy: The Trick is to See Less
Some people are blessed with this talent from birth. While most of us take a lifetime to master. But there’s good news! I found this encouraging: proportions can be learned! ^^ The secret is to see less and to simplify. A great start is to see big shapes before small shapes. If the big shapes are correct, the small ones will follow.
# 3 ~ Have a Vision Before I Begin
My art tutor was a major advocate for this. The first step to drawing anything is to imagine. My vision becomes my compass on the journey. This prevents me from going astray and missing the focus. This was why we drew a disegno, which is Italian for design. In plain words, we drew a mini thumbnail before the long pose. ^^
# 4 ~ Linework is the Mark of Quality
Linework elevates a drawing just as brushstrokes do for a painting. It is also debated among many art institutions: straight or curved? Mr. Miano puts it this way: The balance between the two makes each other stronger. (For example, a circle for a head before squaring it off) Straight lines give connotations of logic, structure, and architecture. Curved lines (mostly in gestures) give connotations of emotion, almost lyrical and musical. As I keep practicing, I’ll learn the balance between the two! ^^
# 5 ~ Shadows Have Edges
Newsflash! I had no idea about this, and I believe it’s super clever. The Renaissance masters were masters in this aspect. Have you ever noticed that their drawings have various degrees of “finishes”? Some parts are softened and blurred, while others come out perfectly rendered. These varying methods to deal with shadow lead the eye to the desired focal point(s) of the drawing. Quite often, they’re exaggerated. There are four types of edges: sharp, firm, soft, and lost.
Sharp: A shadow that has the shape of a line, usually found in the shoulder, the neck, and the top of the leg.
Firm: In between sharp and soft, usually found in bony forms.
Soft: A milder version of "lost", usually found in turning forms, organic forms, or soft areas.
Lost: Putting an intermediate value next to the form, which fades out, is usually found where the subject is blended into the background
*Note: You'll see this more in the last picture :)
# 6 ~ Modeling Means More Information But Not More Stuff (Foundations Come Before Detailing)
This is a common trap for many, including myself. Adding more information to my drawing means making it more accurate. In figure drawing, an example of this could be making my drawing more dimensional or connecting. the forms. Getting the dimensions and shapes of the forms is what matters first, not the strands of hair on a person’s head. Focus on foundations and forms first, not the fine details.
Bonus tip: Putting your drawing, your disegno (thumbnail), and reference upside down allows me to double-check my shapes - since that's all I see. (I'll be honest, this is my least favorite step.)
# 7 ~ Darks are Darker and Lights are Lighter Than They Appear
This is another common trap. Value scales are just like musical scales. Like a scale has a certain order of notes, a value scale has a certain order of intensity. A wrong note on a scale will destroy harmony. An incorrect value will throw off the harmony of a drawing. Being mindful to make dark values stay dark and light values stay light. An artist’s job is to see and express these harmonies with clarity.
# 8 ~ When Bad Moods Hit, Detach Yourself
This is surprisingly one of the favorite things I learned in these two weeks. When I’m not feeling it, don’t do it. Of course, with pressing deadlines, this isn’t always possible. But when I can, it’s good to detach myself when I’m tired. It’s better to do less than to destroy everything I worked so hard towards. When I’m frustrated, breathe, step back, and get back to the basics or do something else for now and then come back.
# 9 ~ Anatomy Can Be Aquantainces, Buddies, or Lovers
Anatomy takes patience. Anatomy takes understanding. Anatomy takes time. All three things are also essential to building friendships and relationships. Just like building a friendship, depending on my desire, my style, and my career, my relationship with anatomy can vary. The important thing is to learn and apply as much as I can. Just like a relationship, learning anatomy is a process and a commitment. I decide how far it will go.
# 10 ~ Better to Be Brave and Wrong Than Chickened Out
Confidence impacts our art on many levels. Even if I’m unsure, it’s best to “fake it till I make it.” The truth is that most people look at our art from a non-professional point of view, and they are not examiners. This could be a blessing in disguise. Let the pressure off and enjoy the process. Enjoy making mistakes; they can lead to greater discoveries. People may see our mistakes, but they can also sense the energy of our pieces. So, be proud of the process of progression, not perfection.
As I mentioned before, these two weeks were wonderful, and I’ll certainly try to be back next summer, maybe for portraiture!
Till Next Time,
Isabelle